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United Nations cuts assistance to Yemen, over 75% services affected

WION Web Team
New Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Jun 01, 2020, 08:59 PM IST
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Photograph:(AFP)

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Yemen will receive lesser food supplies from the body’s various programmes

United Nations’ programmes have been very helpful in providing assistance, especially in terms of health and food supplies in the war-torn Yemen. However, starting now, almost 75 per cent of UN services are ending or halting their operations in the country.

As part of this, Yemen will receive lesser food supplies from the body’s various programmes. Additionally, health services will be impact in 189 out of the 369 hospitals.

Yemen has been seen witnessing fund cuts due to the war-like conditions in the country.  Currently, the capital of the country Sanna is under the control of Houthi rebels, who receive support from Iran as opposed to the Saudi-UAE coalition.

Earlier, the biggest donor to Yemen, United States cut its funding to the country, attributing it to the Houthis.

Yemen is the economically poorest Arab country and has been witnessing war since 2014 since Houthis gained control of the capital city and overthrew the president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

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Smoke billows amid clashes between fighters loyal to Yemen's separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Saudi-backed government forces for control of Zinjibar, the capital of the southern Abyan province, in the Sheikh Salim area on May 23, 2020 | AFP

The war, with Iran and Saudi Arabia as the two major playing has killed over 100,000 people, triggering shortages of important food and medical supplies.

The United Nations has referred to the crisis as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Last year, the UN received international donations worth $3.6 billion. However, it fell short of its $4.2 billion goal. In terms of its goals this year, the organisation has received only 15 per cent of the envisioned $3.5 billion.

The country is country dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Many reports have claim that the virus is spreading through the country, which could have grave consequences considering the socio-economic status of the country, alongside a very poor healthcare system. Coronavirus spreads quickly through contact with the infected, and has killed over 100,000 in the United States alone. In a war-torn situation, it could prove to be much fatal.